Arizona v. Evans - The Contract With America

In 1994 Republicans gained a majority in the House of Representatives for the first time in four decades. Early in 1995, the new Republican majority issued their "Contract with America," a legislative "agenda for national renewal." Most significant of the planned bills were two constitutional amendments requiring a balanced budget and term limits for legislators, which they were unable to enact. Also significant were a bill capping punitive damage awards, which President Clinton vetoed, and a welfare reform bill, which was passed by Congress and signed by the president. Legislation permitting a "line-item veto," which would enable the president to strike specific parts from appropriations bills, passed and was signed into law but was later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.